[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 15 (Monday, April 16, 2001)]
[Page 592]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 7424--National Crime Victims' Rights Week, 2001

April 9, 2001

By the President of the United States

of America

A Proclamation

    Every day, Americans are making progress both in the fight against 
crime and in the effort to ensure fair and compassionate treatment of 
victims and their families. Dedicated volunteers, health care 
professionals, counselors, and law enforcement personnel in communities 
large and small are raising the public's awareness that victims have 
important rights.
    Decreasing crime rates are encouraging, but we are far from winning 
the war against crime. According to the most recent National Crime 
Victimization Survey, nearly 29 million people were victimized by crime 
in 1999, including more than 7 million victims of violent crime. 
Americans cannot afford to be complacent. All of us must continue 
efforts to stop crime and to improve services for those harmed by crime.
    The voices of our Nation's victims continue to have a powerful 
effect in changing laws, policies, and attitudes to promote victims' 
rights and services. They encourage every person in America to take a 
stand and to lend their support. My Administration is committed to 
improving public safety and to providing justice for all who have been 
victimized. We will fight for public policies that prevent crimes. We 
will steadfastly support those responsible for enforcing the laws and 
protecting the innocent. And we will attempt to see that offenders, not 
victims, pay the high cost of crime.
    Our Nation's commitment to crime victim assistance grows stronger 
every year, with thousands of programs in place to provide help and 
hope. My Administration is committed to expanding opportunities for 
faith-based and charitable organizations dedicated to serving persons in 
need. Crime victims often turn to faith-based organizations for 
assistance and support during times of crisis, and religious leaders and 
communities are vital links in our national network of victim services.
    This year marks the 20th anniversary of National Crime Victims' 
Rights Week. The campaign to win rights for victims parallels other 
grassroots movements in our Nation's history. These crusades most 
frequently began as small local movements led by groups of passionate 
individuals who spoke out in protest when they saw inequities. During 
this week, let us join in the effort to establish fair legal rights and 
services for crime victims.
    Now, Therefore, I, George W. Bush, President of the United States of 
America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of 
the United States, do hereby proclaim April 22 through 28, 2001, as 
National Crime Victims' Rights Week. I urge all Americans to share the 
burden of reducing crime in their communities and to follow the example 
of those who have helped establish rights and improve services for 
victims.
    In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this ninth day of 
April, in the year of our Lord two thousand one, and of the Independence 
of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-fifth.
                                                George W. Bush

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 11:59 a.m., April 11, 
2001]

Note: This proclamation was released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on April 10, and it was published in the Federal Register on 
April 12.